Smash Travel Vietnam

Located just 5 minutes northwest of downtown Quy Nhơn, these two towers are situated in a pleasant park next to a busy road. The juxtaposition of the ornate ruins, dating from the 12th-13th century, and the honking traffic passing by is a little jarring. The towers’ arching forms and floral motifs are echoed, to some extent, in the crowns of the long and slender coconut palms and other tropical trees that grow around them. Inside, the towers taper upwards for 20 metres, like giant red brick chimneys, before opening to the sky. It’s unusual for Cham temple sites to have just two towers – normally, there are three – and the assumption is that the third tower was planned but never constructed due to an unknown event or circumstance. Owing to its easy access, Tháp Đôi (Twin Towers) is by far the most visited of the Cham temple sites in Quy Nhơn and the surrounding region. In particular, it’s a popular selfie spot for Vietnamese teens. Early morning is the best time to visit.

A little further north of Quy Nhơn city, Bình Lâm is probably the earliest of the towers in this guide, dating from the late 10th to early 11th century. Bình Lâm once stood within a citadel that was capital of Champa before it moved further inland to Vijaya. The large, solitary tower is notable as it stands at street level, rather than on a rise or hill.